THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
CONTENTS
VOL 19.12
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
6 ISSUE AT HAND
26 REMEMBER WHEN
A Fun Twist of Fate
Holiday Special
By Scott Frager
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Chris Holmes holmes@bowlingindustry.com
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Gregory Keer keer@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath
8 SHORTS Retro is So Now! Ghoulish Delights Goodwill Central Fun is Healthy India’s BluO People Watching Rememberancesr
29 PHOTO MONTAGE 22
West Coast and East Coast Shows
heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS Robin Breuner Mark Miller
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks
33 FEATURE
www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
Great River Bowl From Modest to Mighty By Mark Miller
14 EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW Interview with Jeff Martin By Scott Frager
13245 Riverside Dr., Suite 501 Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (818) 789-2695(BOWL) Fax (818) 789-2812 info@bowlingindustry.com
www.BowlingIndustry.com
HOTLINE: 888-424-2695 37 Showcase 28
17 OPERATIONS
38 Datebook 38 Classifieds
Prevent League Fund Theft By Mark Miller
22 COVER STORY Robin Williams
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
Shares Her Marketing Strategies By Robin Breuner 33
Cover photo by Jim Groves 4
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December 2011
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy of International Bowling Industry is sent free to every bowling center, independently owned pro shop and collegiate bowling center in the U.S., and every military bowling center and pro shop worldwide. Publisher reserves the right to provide free subscriptions to those individuals who meet publication qualifications. Additional subscriptions may be purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50 per year. Subscriptions for Canada and Mexico are $65 per year, all other foreign subscriptions are $80 per year. All foreign subscriptions should be paid in U.S. funds using International Money Orders. POSTMASTER: Please send new as well as old address to International Bowling Industry, 13245 Riverside Drive, Suite 501, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2010, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
THE ISSUE AT HAND
A Fun Twist of Fate In 1991, I was working at a publishing company that published three regional parenting magazines in Southern CA. The two owners were brothers, who pretty much launched the parenting magazine business. One brother, Carey, handled the business side of the magazine. Jack handled all editorial. I used to really enjoy listening to Jack tell stories about parenting and trends, even though I was a young 24 and had no immediate plans to have kids. He spoke with such passion and knowledge, that it was mesmerizing. One of the trends he shared was called cocooning. We all know now that cocooning is the act of individuals who decide to socialize less and stay at home, sheltered from the big, cold and strange world. At the time it sounded nice. Fast forward 20 years and games have changed significantly. Staying at home to play realistic games truly is an option for most kids these days who enjoy 60” plasma TV’s, highspeed Internet connections and blazing
fast computer processors. But the one thing that has been missing for 20 years is showing encouraging signs of a comeback: Socialization. Better yet, in a fun twist of fate, it turns out that the very impetus of the cocooning craze, technology, can actually be used to bring people together again. Perhaps you’ve seen some mobile phone Applications (Apps) called foursquare, CheckPoints, Yowza? These, and many more like them, are on the way. What makes these Apps so unique is that the consumers are rewarded with points, privileges and merchandise for “checking in” to local retailers. The more they frequent select businesses, the more benefits they earn. They are all very interesting and they all prove that technology can be used to change behavior and influence buying decisions. Just ask Jeff Martin, the tech industry guru and former Apple Computer exec who has made a career out of changing consumers’ habits via mobile devices. I had a chance to personally interview Jeff at his offices in San Mateo, CA and the interview is summarized in this month’s issue. Jeff will be a featured keynote speaker at next month’s BPAA’s 2012 Bowling Summit. If you are curious, even the slightest, about how our industry might be able bust out of the cocoon, like the beautiful butterfly we are . . . Read this interview and see you at the Summit.
– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com In two and a half years of involvement, innovation and support, IBI has grown in stature, membership and content. Now, more than ever, proprietors look to their counterparts through the website for input and direction. The bowling industry supports its own and this can be seen every day online. Charles Woodward knows that the place to go to get honest feedback is a click away on IBI. Show him how it works by answering his call for information, “Birthday Party Host/Hostess” posted November 5. It’s the Holidays, a time for giving; and giving information is what the website is all about!
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SHORTS
GHOULISH DELIGHTS Fall lends itself to harvest festivals and most importantly reveling at Halloween. Ten Pin Alley in Hilliard, OH, a boutique-style, 16-lane Brunswick center complete with two bars, outdoor patio and three sand volleyball courts plus restaurant, was not to be outdone. Marketing Director Andy Beougher was hell-bent on feeding his ghoulish side. “As a fan of the hit AMC series The Walking Dead, I reached out to our local comic store, Packrat Comics, to plan and host an event geared to fans of the show. What developed was a full night of zombie-related activities and fun complete with special guests, open bowling, pizza buffet and, of course, the showing of the 2nd Season Premiere of the show on all televisions in the house.” Besides a raft of zombies and Happy ghouls bowling.
frightful characters, guests included Tom Sullivan, a special effects master for the cult-hit “Evil Dead” films along with local comic creators Sean Forney and Josh Medors and the band, “The Outs.” 50 plus fiends attended.
REMEMBRANCES IBI reaches out to the bowling community to honor and remember individuals who have spent their lives in the bowling industry. Arthur Langlo, 91, owner of Lane Glo Bowling Centers in New Port Richey and Port Richey, FL, passed away September 12, 2011. He was a veteran of WW II, Army Artillery, with three campaign ribbons in the Pacific.
Tom Sullivan signs autographs for fans.
Photos by Josh Irish from www.Geekpodcast.com
3
EASY WAYS
to place your Classified Ad in International Bowling Industry Magazine
Bob Dykes, Sr. of Brandon, FL, passed away after suffering a heart attack. Dykes was owner of Oakfield Lanes but also was involved in many community associations and in spearheading the North Brandon Little League fields.
Robert “Pepper” Martin, 89, of San Antonio, TX, passed away October 28, 2011. Martin served in the South Pacific during WW II; he was a Minor League baseball player and manager but made his career in bowling and was instrumental in starting Columbia Bowling Industries. 8
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Call (818) 789-2695
Fax (818) 789-2812
E-mail your ad to:
info@bowlingindustry.com
GOODWILL CENTRAL
SHORTS
Covering regional, national, and organizational goals, centers throughout the U.S. again put their best lanes forward to help. Eight ladies involved in the Susan G. Komen 3–Day for the Cure walk raised $14,334 of the necessary $18,400 total for their collective participation. They hosted a fundraiser at Oakfield Lanes, Brandon, FL, titled “For Our Girls”. The aim is to eradicate breast cancer before their kids grow up. Other breast cancer fundraisers were: The Haunted Hooters Bowling Bash held at Pine Lanes in South Glens Falls, NY, and the 7th Annual “Bowling for Boobies” held at Jillian’s in Universal City, CA. The Jillian’s event sponsored by the Busted Foundation raises money for women who are financially impacted by living with breast cancer. Over $100,000 in proceeds were raised in the 2011 tournament. On a national level, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) got a boost for the third year in a row from the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Thousands of members bowled in local bowling centers across the nation on Sunday, November 6 for a one-day national bowling event to raise more than $500,000. Warming House Youth Center of Wilmette, IL, held an afternoon of bowling at Wilmette Bowling Center to encourage contributions to help its 40 years of service to community teens. The Ross and Buley centers in Indiana have been a haven for teens for over 30 years. With cutbacks, the Muncie Fire Department hosted the first “Giving Back to the Community” fundraiser at Munsee Lanes in Muncie, IN, in hopes of keeping the centers open and their programs intact. Little Falls Bowling Center of Little Falls, MN, opened its doors to a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Morrison County. Tickets for the event included two hours of bowling, shoes and a chance to win prizes. Take a moment to let us know what your center is doing. Email: info@bowlingindustry.com
FUN IS GOOD BUT HEALTHY IS BETTER Did you know that just two games of bowling can take you one step closer to staying in shape…maybe even two steps! Two games exercises 184 muscles, burns between 320 to 580 calories and is the equivalent of walking about a half mile. Bowling works tendons, joints and ligaments in your arms and legs plus it improves posture, balance and flexibility.
Senior citizen bowling. Photo by ALLPLaY Family Entertainment Center Marketing a business is a challenge, and Don and Kelly Benson, owners/operators of ALLPLaY Family Entertainment Center, an 8-lane candlepin center, in Waldoboro, ME, know that bringing in bowlers is not a one size fits all strategy. With all their senior citizen patrons and many with special needs, the health benefits of bowling, as presented by Kids Bowl Free, was just the hook they needed to promote bowling and their center. One can’t always just have fun. Getting healthy while having fun might just be the best prize of all.
INDIA’S BluO ANNOUNCES A THREE-YEAR PLAN In the February 2011 issue IBI reported on India’s growing bowling industry and the joint project of PVR, India’s movie theater chain, and Thailand’s theater chain, Major Cineplex Group. PVR BluO is a 51:49 joint venture between the two companies. At that time, one 24-lane center in Gurgaon had been opened. Recently a second center has been completed in Delhi, housing 26 lanes plus lounges, a tattoo studio and a private karaoke lounge. As announced in The Economic Times in October, PVR BluO, is now looking to expand its operations across cities like Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai over the next three years. 10
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Chief Operating Officer Gautam Dutta said that within two years they should have 250 lanes operational, compared to the current 50. He also stated that work has already begun on four centers. PVR’s Ajay Bijli stated, “With BluO, we redefined bowling as a popular lifestyle and entertainment sport in the country. It has proven to be a good business proposition for us.”
SHORTS
EXPANSION, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS Two centers whose doors were closed have reopened. Paramount Lanes in Elmira Heights, NY, has new owners and a fresh look. It is the fifth center in New York and Pennsylvania owned by Paul Waliczek and Steve Miller of Midway Management Inc. In Zanesville, OH, Sunrise Strikes is up and running with a new bar, resurfaced lanes, new monitors and a new AMF scoring system.
Mike and Kandee Ennis purchased Buster’s North Douglas Lanes in Drain, OR. Now Gutter Ballz, the couple have painted the outside, put up a new sign and upgraded the equipment. Christmas time will see a new, automated scoring system with graphics. It is a real family operation; Mike runs the six-lane bowling side and Kandee works in the kitchen and small café.
2012 is the year for grand openings. Main Event Entertainment will open its tenth location in San Antonio, TX, in early spring. Founded in 1998, Main Event operates high-volume family entertainment centers throughout Texas. The San Antonio facility will feature state-of-the-art bowling, billiards, laser tag, a ropes course, and more than 100 virtual and interactive games, as well as dining options and full service bars. Robert Thompson, president and CEO of Denverbased Seasoned Development LLC, recently signed a 25-year lease for a 23,700 s/f former discount store which he plans to convert to Punch Bowl. Tentative opening is mid 2012 and will feature eight bowling lanes, four pool tables, four private karaoke rooms, three bars and multiple felt tables for Marbles? Marbles! A modern diner component will also be attached.
Treasure Valley, ID, has been without a bowling center for 25 years, but that is now rectified with Pinz Bowling Center Wahooz Family Fun Zone. The 27,000 s/f facility is owned by Tom Nicholson and family and Patrick Morandi and promises 25 permanent jobs. Brunswick Bowling installed the lanes and state-of-the-art equipment.
RETRO IS SO NOW! Metro Bowl in Crystal Lake, IL, dates back to the 1920s. It started as Crystal Pocket and Bowling Alley which housed 4 lanes and (of course) billiards. In 1954, it became Metro Bowl, named Metro Bowl celebrates historical designation. The center after owners Mary and Bill with pictures from “Then.” Metropulos, and offered ten lanes in a new location. Still in the family, Jim Contos, Bill’s grandson, keeps Metro Bowl retro and the real deal! An Americana neon sign marks the spot and the vintage AMF pinspotters work away alongside the classic hardwood lanes. No retro renovation here! On October 22, the McHenry County Historical Society Committee presented Metro Metro Bowl “Now” with period cars in front. Bowl with a plaque selecting the establishment as “historically significant.” For those who truly want to reminisce, lanes eight, nine and ten are three of the four 1920s lanes which were carefully removed and included in the current building. Photos by: Walter E. Bilinski, Studio B Photography Regency Lanes located in Bakersfield, CA, cannot boast a 1920s or 1950s lineage, but according to Vern Spangler, Controller, the center boasts 40 traditional wooden lanes from 1982. With the center hosting the California State Senior Bowling Tournament in October, it was time to spiff up those antiques. The lane refinishing was done by Lininger Building Construction of Paso Robles. Again, new is good, but old can be better!
SELL YOUR CENTER OR EQUIPMENT FAST! (818) 789-BOWL (2695) w w w. B o w l i n g I n d u s t r y. c o m IBI
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SHORTS
KULICK, ESPN & “EXPOSURE” ESPN the Magazine’s annual “Body Issue” which celebrates athletic physiques, male and female, from a variety of sports invited bowling’s 2010 U.S. Open Champion, Kelly Kulick, to participate. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Kulick accepted. The result? A black-and-white, creative pose. Tom Clark, PBA’s current commissioner, was quoted, “Kelly is a great ambassador for the bowling and the PBA. … the ESPN pictorial is another high impact way of gaining recognition and attention.” Kulick’s take on her new exposure? “Ultimately it was my decision and I’m very flattered. There were a lot of different athletes involved. We’re all different. It’s all about the physiques for each kind of athlete; it’s not about being a size 2 person.” The issue went on sale on newsstands October 7.
A NEW NAIR EMERGES NAIR celebrated 40 years at its Anniversary Meeting and Celebration held at the Marriott in Lincolnshire, IL. A combined work and pleasure event, the first evening honored former NAIR President Bill Warner who passed away earlier this spring. A video of 40 years of NAIR was shown and given to each company in attendance. Discussion to keep NAIR as a trade organization was the major topic with the result being a commitment to build on the old while focusing on a revitalized, membership driven organization linked to current issues. Election of Officers and Directors was as follows: Gregg Pasdiora, President; Barb Peltz, Vice President; Mark Neumann, Treasurer; Ed Jandreau, Secretary; with Steve Caffrey, John Hardman, Scott Freeman and Ken Surprenant as Directors. These members will service until the next regular meeting is held.
Gregg Pasdiora, president of NAIR and vice president of US Poly Chemical International, (left) with George Bradner, one of the founders of NAIR and now its consultant, and Ken Surprenant of Southwest Bowling and Billiard and a Charter Member. 12
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PEOPLEWATCHING
Fred Schreyer
Fred Schreyer, Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of the Professional Bowlers Association, announced his retirement after 11 years of service to the organization. He will continue to serve as a
senior advisor. “Fred has managed the PBA through a really challenging period. We’re grateful for his leadership and that he’s agreed to continue working with us to grow the PBA,” said Mike Slade of the PBA ownership group.
Replacing Schreyer will be Geoff Reiss who has held several positions at ESPN where he managed the launch of ESPN.com, NFL.com, NBA.com and NASCAR Online. “The PBA has a terrific Geoff Reiss opportunity to establish an important presence in the sports marketplace and I’m looking forward to working with our team, members and industry partners to fully realize our potential,” said Reiss. At the same time, it was reported that Tom Clark was promoted to the position of Commissioner, effective November 1. His background includes Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Tom Clark the USBC and sports editor for USA Today. “It’s an honor to be given this opportunity to help build an organization that has meant so much to my life,” Clark said. “I love the sport of bowling and the PBA and I’m energized by that same passion for the game that our players and fans have shown for over 50 years.”
BPAA SUMMIT PREVIEW t’s been close to a dozen years since Dr. Robert Putnam published the now famous book titled Bowling Alone. This groundbreaking book brought to life how the very fabric of our connections with family, friends and community has changed. In the book, Dr. Putnam even mentioned some ways on how we can reconnect. But, as avant-garde as Dr. Putnam was, even he wasn’t able to predict how much damage technology would do to bowling in the decade to follow and how far technology would evolved. More importantly, back then no one could even predict that the same technology that has ripped us apart would, one day, be used to bring bowlers back to bowling. Jeff Martin, CEO of Tribal Technologies, Inc. has been helping people and companies communicate their ideas through the use of technology and his professional portfolio includes a decade-long stint at Apple Computer’s Global Entertainment and Media Division reporting directly to the venerable Steve Jobs. Martin will be a featured keynote speaker at next month’s BPAA 2012 Bowl Summit in Napa, CA. When the opportunity for a face-to-face interview came up, this publisher hopped a plane to San Francisco and met with Jeff Martin for lunch and to learn more about his vision regarding the convergence of mobile technology and bowling.
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BRINGING TECHNOLOGY TO THE PHYSICAL WORLD Jeff Martin, former Apple Computer executive, discusses using technology to bring bowlers back to our centers. By Scott Frager 14
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THE “LINGUA FRANCA” OF SPORTS “Bowling is the ‘lingua franca’ of the sporting world,” says Martin. The game and sport is played in more than 113 countries around the world and the sport is played virtually the same everywhere one goes. He colloquially speaks to what we in the industry know to be true, “One can travel anywhere, at any time, and feel right at home at a bowling center.” Recognizing that here is a huge gap, and subsequent opportunity, between the amount of frequent and league bowlers worldwide and the number of casual open play bowlers makes Martin’s eyes open wide and brings a Cheshire cat-like smile to his face. He automatically and instinctively sees the potential between his high-tech world and the relatively low-tech world of bowling. Like so many industries, we’ve lost countless bowlers due to the explosive growth of the Internet, home-based video games, and social networking. To many, the social aspect of bowling had become irrelevant. According to Martin, the bowling industry is uniquely and perfectly suited to use mobile technology as part of the overall strategy to bring
BPAA SUMMIT PREVIEW bowlers back to the centers. Why? First, the bowling business hasn’t really been burned by technology before. In the early and wild days of the Internet, many businesses quickly flocked to this new media only to be disappointed just as fast after measurable results failed to develop. Second, we now have proven business models where technology has been used to change consumer habits and behavior. Think crowded Apple Stores with smart, young and knowledgeable staff mingling, teaching and facilitating sale after sale with consumers. Marketers used to believe that technology might one day replace the concert, movie and sporting event. The new philosophy, shared by many experts including Martin, is that technology is best used as a complement to the physical activity. It will never replace it. Therefore, it can be used as a tool to bring people back “home.” That’s welcomed news for the bowling business.
BRINGING TECHNOLOGY TO THE PHYSICAL WORLD Mobile media is the “most intimate medium in the world,” according to Martin. As consumers, we take our phones with us everywhere. They are always by our side. We check our phones in the morning when we wake up, before we go to sleep at night and use our phones throughout the day. Location-based applications can reveal the powerful buying DNA of our customers. What professional marketers have discovered with mobile media is that consumers are much more likely to try (sample) a product if an offer is made via mobile device. Mobile commerce is better suited for impulse buys. Imagine being able to offer an immediate special bowling offer to all cell phone users who are within a 5 mile radius of your center. The universal key is that “consumers must be respected,“ according to Martin. Since mobile media is so intimate, consumers want to know that their information will be held in confidence and that their trust will never be abused. Martin says that, “consumers will almost never opt-out of mobile media, as long as you give them what they want.” That’s good advice for all marketing. If your customers trust you enough to opt-in to listen to your marketing messages, don’t send them offers and specials that devalue that trust. In other words, give them something that they can truly appreciate.
GAME THEORY AND THE BOWLING BUSINESS Taking a cue from the feature film, A Beautiful Mind, Martin is confident that the bowling industry can put game theory to work on its behalf. According to Martin, “given enough time, a business can actually predict what a customer will do if the customer shares what he/she values.” Think of Cold War and labor union negotiation tactics. Game theory also applies in 16
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marketing. “You can tell a lot about a person by the music he has on his phone,” opines Martin. If you allow your mobile provider to know that you enjoy a particular band, it can (and does) partner up with local venues to sell you tickets to an upcoming concert when that band comes to town. It can also reward you with merchandise and other special gifts for providing that information. It’s an incredible perceived value to the consumer. As long as the providers don’t offer soft rock fans tickets to the opera, they will earn and keep the customers’ trust. In short, first we need to pay our fans for their attention, with rewards and offers. Then, we need to continue to reward them in exchange for influencing their friends. Finally, we need to make certain the rewards are of high perceived value. This is not new to anyone who owns and operates a redemption center or has ever put a buck in a slot machine. The concept is proven for kids and adults alike. Why? Because we are all humans and all humans share the same DNA. Rewards and payback are the major differences between a video game like “Wii Bowling” and a sophisticated brand relationship management application like foursquare or CheckPoints. Over time and with sophisticated brand relationship management software, the kind that Martin’s company Tribal Technologies engineers and sells, it is possible to predict what your customers’ response will be toward mobile offers and can even change behaviors. That’s music to marketers’ ears. Martin suggests that bowling is well positioned to be the first global recreational and professional sport to take advantage of mobile media. He goes on to say that the best way to communicate to fans of professional sports is through the recreational side. Most professional sports do a great job with selling sponsorships and promotions to national brands, but the reality is that these brands are not able to accurately measure the results of their strategies. Half-time shows look great on TV, but do they really sell more Doritos?
BRINGING THEM HOME So, how can bowling centers use mobile technology to bring bowlers back to the center? “Let’s recognize that bowling is a great experience in the physical world,” Martin hypothesizes. “We can enhance that experience by building a challenge system that allows people to bowl together in global leagues as well as their existing local leagues. Then, make it fun and reward bowlers for bowling often. Finally, let’s allow bowlers to redeem prizes in a way that helps the local bowling center, other local merchants and national brands.” Martin knows that such technology is already available. He believes that bowling consumers and national brands are primed and ready to adopt such technology. He will be a featured keynote speaker at next month’s BPAA Bowl Summit
OPERATIONS
T
By Mark Miller
hey are your friends, neighbors and co-workers. You’ve watched their children grow up and have attended religious services with them. Because of such long-time relationships, you inherently trust them with your life, much less your money. You never thought these people could be crooks and never dreamed their crime would involve your bowling league prize money. But the truth is that each year a number of bowling league treasurers run off with their league’s prize funds. The telltale sign is when it’s time for the end-of-season meeting or banquet, and they are nowhere to be found. Once they are located, it’s usually too late. The money has been spent. Once caught, they often tell various stories before admitting the truth. “There are a few who prey on the friendship and lack of knowledge of the bowler,” said United States Bowling Congress Bond Claims Analyst Dennis Caudle Jr. “They get the bowlers to
trust them and whatnot. These people usually find themselves in dire straits because of the economy. They may have an alcohol or drug problem or gambling debts which is the No. 1 cause. They may be unemployed. The bills are due and they figure they’ll pay the money back with their income tax refund.” Look up stolen bowling league money on Internet search engines and the stories from recent years scream out: Luther Collins, treasurer of USBC’s oldest continuous league, the Drug Trade League at Brunswick Perry Hall Lanes near Baltimore, is charged with stealing $47,000. Dana Gripple, treasurer of the Outcast League at Brunswick Zone in Lower Southampton
OPERATIONS Township, PA, is accused of stealing $12,000. David Long, treasurer of a league at Warwick Lanes near New Castle, DE, is charged with stealing $11,500. John Bishop, treasurer of the Quakerstown (PA) Community Church League, is accused of stealing $11,000. Direct payback rarely happens because the money’s been spent meaning there’s no immediate payout of prize funds. But if the league certified with USBC and followed proper procedures, bowlers can receive most, if not all, of their money. For certified bond claims, USBC covers prize funds up to $10,000. Leagues offering higher prizes must indicate that when filling out their certification forms at the start of the season. Anything over $10,000 would be covered by USBC’s insurance carrier, Travelers Insurance. Leagues also can choose to file criminal charges or a civil suit to attempt to retrieve their money. Caudle said about 85-90 percent of leagues press criminal charges. Not all losses of league prize money are from desperate treasurers. There are legitimate instances of burglary or robbery. In Palm Springs, CA, a woman treasurer of the Palm Springs Tuesday Mixed League was assaulted in the parking lot and nearly $10,000 snatched from her arms. In Brooklyn, NY, gunmen took $80,000 in league receipts in a daytime robbery in the basement at Maple Lanes. In these instances, a police report must be filed and verified, and then USBC will pay out one week’s receipts up to a strict $10,000 maximum. Fortunately, instances of leagues losing their prize money by any means when insured are rare. In the 2010-11 season that ended July 31, only seven bond claims were filed for treasurers running off with the money and another 11 burglary claims were made. That’s out of about 72,000 USBC-certified leagues. The reported bond claims totaled $111,225 with another $105,934 pending, $5,290.82 paid by USBC and $11,616.14 paid by Travelers Insurance. Burglary claims
USBC Bond Claims Analyst, Dennis Caudle, Jr.
added up to $8,142 with $10,000 pending and $6,765 paid by USBC. Also, the USBC paid members of the Drug Trade League $10,000 plus Travelers kicked in another $10,900. The Outcast League received $5,800. Both will have to go to the accused directly for the rest.
There are several steps leagues can take and bowling centers can promote to avoid prize fund loss by treasurer, robbery or burglary:
Certify the league with USBC Establish a checking account in the league’s name, not the treasurer’s or president’s name Obtain an EIN number from the Internal Revenue Service. Have two league officers who are not immediate family members co-sign for the account. Make sure the league president verifies account balances monthly Pay prize funds in checks
OPERATIONS To help make this process easier, USBC began a program in 2010-11 where bank statements are sent directly to league presidents. Previously, they usually went to the treasurer. Another policy started in 2010-11 was a 5 percent interest charge to the thief on outstanding money. That’s to deter crooked treasurers from considering their league funds free money. “It’s the cheapest loan you can get,” Caudle said. “Honestly, if the league doesn’t go after you to make payments, you took out a loan with no interest.” When leagues handle their own finances, bowling centers can get caught in the middle. Some leagues have wrongly accused center staff of stealing the money. Other times, bowlers simply choose not to return thus costing centers valuable customers. In those cases, Caudle recommends centers do their best to appease such bowlers by ensuring they will help leagues clean up their messes. Centers also can choose to bank league funds themselves. Centers choosing in-house banking are urged to keep such funds separate from general center accounts. That way if the business folds, the bowlers still have their league funds protected. Caudle said it is okay to combine funds from multiple leagues in one league account as long as each league is provided separate account paperwork. And even though the center is doing the banking, league presidents still need
to check accounts at least monthly. This protects the centers as much as the leagues. If center staff is caught stealing league money, the bowling center would file a claim for employee theft with its insurance company. Centers also should consider hiring security staff when they know league treasurers will have large amounts of cash on them. This will help prevent smart burglars from watching where treasurers sit to count their money. Caudle and the USBC’s Rules staff are available to help centers and their leagues take the necessary steps to avoid having to confront someone they thought they could trust. “I know of some center managers who help their leagues with the bonding process,” Caudle said. “Some centers have forked out money for payments we didn’t make as public relations to help bowlers. It’s good customer service.” An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are interested in finding out how to insure your league funds, please contact the USBC. ❖
Mark Miller is a freelance writer from Flower Mound, Texas. He is the national and Dallas-Fort Worth bowling writer for Examiner.com and a columnist for the Bowling News Network.
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COVER STORY
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COVER STORY By Robin Breuner
T
o stay on top in today’s fast-paced, high-wired world, an understanding of digital marketing is indispensible. In the bowling world, it’s a revolutionary concept. No one understands this better than Robin Williams, not the actor but the self-proclaimed “Marketing Maven” of Holiday Lanes in Bossier City, Louisiana. “The best way to describe our marketing strategy is that we’re really innovative and we’re hyperactive,” said Williams. “We use a lot of hyper marketing.” “We don’t have a long term plan, but we do have a big, broad picture of what we want to do and where we want to go,” she said. “We meet quarterly to see what we’re going to do for the upcoming quarter.” Williams was never formally trained in marketing. She started out as a graphic artist but got her marketing experience on the job by learning and implementing advertising and social media, and by just being a gogetter who’s unafraid to try anything. She has developed many creative ideas and events for Holiday Lanes, which has put the 44-lane center that has been family-owned and operated since 1960, at the forefront of 21st century innovation. “An artist called me the other day, and he is a big fan of the TV show, True Blood. They want to do a big party for the season finale of the show,” Williams said. “They got together with the local blood center, and we’re going to do a ‘True Blood Drive’. It’s going to be a season finale speculation party where people come, have fun, bowl, dress up as their favorite character and speculate about what’s going to happen with the season finale.” She said that it’s become a great partnership with the blood center and the artists who came up with the idea. “It’s all about having the ability to say ‘yes’ to things and then trying them. It’s about fun, creative energy,” she said. Williams said that in her opinion, the most important thing is not necessarily whether the concept works, it’s whether the word gets out into
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COVER STORY
the community. “If they hear about an event, then they hear our name and that’s part of the plan,” she said. Another major part of her strategy is to take advantage of social media as much as possible. Facebook is her medium of choice, but she says that Twitter is an excellent way to get people talking about things that aren’t necessarily related to bowling. Her best example of this is how she markets one of their new, weekly events called Tunes and Ten Pins. The event is a collaboration between the bowling center and the local music community. Holiday Lanes invites local bands, some of them as young as 13 years old, to play on
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Friday nights in a venue that is smoke-free and familyfriendly. For added novelty, the stage is set up in the middle of the lanes and the musicians perform while people are bowling on either side of them. The bands are not limited to younger people. Each week they try to promote a new band that appeals to a different demographic. They recently showcased a band called Bayou Boogie, which is an older band with a bluesy, Cajun repertoire. The next week was a funky, 70s crowd and the week after was a college band. “I’m trying to have a big variety and make it diverse so that every week is different. I’m trying to be intentional without it being obvious,” said Williams. “What it’s doing is creating a buzz in our community about a place where you can go that’s smoke-free that also promotes local music,” she said. “We’ve gotten a lot of people who haven’t bowled in years who have come to hear a band, and then they decide to bowl. We’ve seen so many new people.” Williams said that Twitter has been a great way to promote this by utilizing the fact that their marketing is not all bowling-related. If someone types in ‘Live Music’ and they are within an hour of the area, they will see ‘Live Music at Holiday Lanes’. They can click the link and suddenly they have expanded their targeted
COVER STORY marketing from bowling to music fans. “We’ve gotten so many calls from local musicians who’ve heard about this on Facebook or Twitter,” she said. “One of the things that’s really interesting to me is that whenever I hear about a band, I ask them to send me a promotional photo so that I can create a poster for them. What I do is print one that they can hang and one that they can use to promote themselves on Facebook and Twitter and Reverb Nation,” she said. “On our Facebook page, we have a link to Reverb Nation that you can click and see all of the upcoming gigs. That is in itself a whole other social media outlet that is music-based.” Once Williams creates these custom electronic posters, the bands post them on their Facebook pages. Instantly, Holiday Lanes’ Tunes and Ten Pins event goes viral on those pages, and the center suddenly has a whole new following of fans that may not have known about it otherwise. She said that the minute that the band posts the information on their Facebook wall, she starts seeing new people checking out the Holiday Lanes’ page and ‘Liking’ it. Williams said that by creating these posters, she’s gotten 100 new followers in the past two months. “Every time I do an event, I always do the same thing that I do with Tunes and Ten Pins. I create the image that I want to
project,” she said. “For instance, Bowl for the Cure is coming up, and I got in touch with the local Susan G. Komen foundation and provided them with all the digital information and asked them to partner with us. The minute that I gave it to them, they put it on their Facebook page, and it created a buzz within their following.” She said that the more a marketing person can do to promote their center or an event at the center by giving a partner or a community organization the tools that they need to make it viral, the more success they will have. By giving them a jpeg image of a flyer in a small size that’s optimized for their
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COVER STORY web site, they will post on their Facebook page and people will instantly start ‘Liking’ it and creating a buzz within both communities. Another example of this is a program that Williams started called Friday Night Lights. It’s an unlimited bowling and glow show special for high school kids on Friday nights after the local football games. She created a flyer and put it on the Holiday Lanes’ Facebook page and then looked up every high school in the area and posted it on their ‘Walls’. When she checked her Facebook page in the morning, she was surprised to see that one of the high schools had already forwarded her message to all of it’s fans. It came full-circle when she realized that one of the high schools had forwarded the message back to her about her own event! An on-line reservation system is another avenue for free marketing that generates a buzz on both Facebook and Twitter. It’s been good to create a sense of urgency, and it also guarantees a partial payment if there are noshows. Holiday Lanes was one of the first bowling centers in the country to implement the use of it, and it’s been very effective. Williams serves as a diplomat for the Chamber of Commerce where her job is to promote local businesses in the community. It’s somewhat of a ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ kind of an agreement. When businesses find out that she’s helping to promote them, they are happy to do the same for her. “Everywhere I go and talk to people about bowling, I give them a free game coupon,” she said. “We also have free game coupons on our web site. We sometimes have them on our Facebook page and sometimes I put them on Twitter. Any time I put an ad in a magazine or newspaper, I always put a coupon in the ad. It lets us know where the coupon came from and if the ad is effective.” Whenever there is a ribbon cutting in town, Williams writes a web blog about the new business for the community and posts it on her personal page and also on the Holiday Lanes’ page. “The thing about Facebook is that it’s okay to promote your own business, but it’s important to make it about other people too because people like to read about themselves,” she said. “Every time I do a blog about a new store, I do a tag of it on our Facebook page, and then the followers of the new store come to our page after they’ve checked out the blog.” Beyond the digital marketing, the biggest goals both for Williams and for Holiday Lanes are to create a sense of community and to teach students to bowl, because they 24
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COVER STORY understand that the kids are the future of bowling. “It seems that bowling went out of fashion for awhile, but it’s our intention to make bowling a priority. We’re really committed to making sure that every student in the state of Louisiana learns to bowl in P.E. class. We’ve developed some things that we try to promote to help reach that goal,” said Williams. Geaux Beauxling Louisiana is a plan that she created to promote bowling as a fun activity throughout the state of Louisiana. The idea is to generate funds to help purchase bowling equipment for schools that may not be near a center. Part of the program includes selling t-shirts with a colorful, Mardi Gras motif. Currently, only a few centers throughout the state have equipment available to loan to the schools. Holiday Lanes has 22 lanes that they loan out regularly. They use the in-school bowling program that’s provided by the BPAA that provides free curriculum to the teachers on-line. They are able to check out the portable bowling lanes for two weeks and use them in their schools. Each lane consists of a carpet and rubber pins. After the kids have learned on the portable lanes, they come to the center and try out their skills on the real thing. Williams understands that kids who learn how to bowl will come back and bring their families with them, both now and in the future, and by continuing to market her center with eyes on the future, the ‘Marketing
Maven’ will always be one step ahead of the competition. ❖ Photo courtesy of Derek Groves
Robin Breuner is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to IBI. She lives in Marin County, California.
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REMEMBER WHEN
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REMEMBER WHEN
W
hether in 1947, 1969 or today, at Christmas time, kids of all ages are thrilled with gifts that will perform and last! These holiday ads from different generations point out that bowling has always been high on the wish list. Notice in each ad the older company moniker. The Brunswick Corporation was founded in 1845 as J.M. Brunswick Mfg. Co., and then became Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company before moving on to Brunswick Corporation. AMF Bowling was founded in 1900 as American Machine and Foundry Co. and became AMF Bowling Products and today is QubicaAMF Worldwide. Both companies came to bowling with the introduction of the automatic pinsetter and have been there ever since. What stands out about both of these ads is that they did not run in industry select publications but were found in national, general media magazines, e.g. Life, Look, etc. Even though there was a twenty-plus year gap, bowling continued to tip the scales for product placement; Christmas was even better with a new bowling ball, bag or pair of shoes. Ad agencies knew where to go to find the bowling audience–everywhere!–and the larger, general circulation publications fit the bill. Stepping back in time is not just nostalgic, it emphasizes what can be achieved with will, work and... ahem, good advertising! ❖ MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS
1969
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FEATURE
Modest to Mighty From lane beds to lounges, Minnesota’s Great River Bowl keeps on expanding.
By Mark Miller
I
n a bowling world where older centers continue to close and the number of league participants has dwindled for more than 30 years, there’s a place in central Minnesota bucking those trends. Located in Sartell, a town of about 15,000 people just north of St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, Great River Bowl hasn’t been downsizing and laying people off. Quite the contrary, it has been growing and adding staff after a major addition to the original building built in 1979. The 60- by 190-foot expansion in front of the old structure, called The Suite Lanes, opened last year and features eight upscale lanes and large glass doors plus a modern exterior for the entire complex. In a previous expansion, another eight lanes, restaurant-bar and outdoor courtyard were added. “It’s a transformation we’ve been making for the last 10-12 years one room at a time,” said Great River Bowl Hospitality Director Jason Mathiasen, whose parents Lyle and Barb have owned the center since 1984. “We’ve been pretty lucky,” said Lyle Mathiasen. “We’ve tried what the big guys are doing. Sometimes I go down to Minneapolis to see what’s happening there
Exterior of Great River Bowl.
to give me ideas here. In the end, it’s all about having good conditions, great service and clean bathrooms.” The transformation has taken Great River Bowl from a small, old-time alley that just offered bowling and a bar to a family fun center with something for everyone. “We thought we’d do okay but it’s been a huge advantage that we didn’t anticipate,” said Jason, a former school teacher who’s been a full-time employee since 2004 and on the payroll since 1991. “It seems to draw people when they
Proprietors Lyle and Barb Mathiason with their son Jason who oversees Great River Bowl’s Food and Beverage. IBI
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FEATURE
The 24 QubicaAMF-equipped lanes at Great River Bowl got new scoring in 2008.
The lanes transform for Glo-bowling.
see something new and modern.” Great River Bowl is a 32-lane facility with 40 employees. It’s now big enough that the fire marshal has approved it to handle up to 940 people and its amenities cater to every non-bowling and bowling need in town. On the lanes, the numbers Lyle Mathiasen gave are impressive: Almost 1,000 league bowlers 40 teams of youth members Five high school teams
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The fun and inviting concourse area.
Off the lanes, Great River Bowl has featured a wide variety of events including group events, holiday parties and wedding receptions. “Christmas and company parties have been big,” Lyle said. “We’ve found people wanting food, drink and entertainment with their bowling. So about eight years ago we added a glass wall. Some weekends we have big groups and can close off the room by pulling the shade down for privacy.” Next to the Suite Lanes, the 208 Lounge added what Mathiasen says is the area’s first piano bar in September. Partners Pub, the restaurant-bar, serves lunch starting at 11 a.m. and has lots of televisions where locals follow their passion, college hockey. The 100-seat Breakroom adjacent to Partners Pub offers adult games and billiards. As one of only three commercial centers in a metropolitan area of about 120,000, Great River Bowl’s biggest competition is other entertainment venues and making changes to keep up with them. Seeing what other businesses were doing told the Mathiasens they needed to go beyond the traditional bowling alley to succeed. “We’ve been able to watch bowling evolve,” Lyle said. “It’s been fun to see where we are now. Bowling is fun for a lot of folks. Twenty years ago we were down a little. It was not cool to be a bowler. But today the young folks seem
FEATURE
In good weather, the Courtyard is a nice place to relax and enjoy the great food the center offers.
Great River Bowl At A Glance Name: Great River Bowl Location: Sartell, MN Proprietors: Lyle and Barb Mathiasen Number of Years in the Business: 27 Number of Lanes: 32 Number of Employees: 46 Type of Scoring Equipment: QAMF Conqueror Pro Lane Type: Synthetic Type of Pinsetter: AMF 82-70 Attractions Vendor: Midwest Coin Concepts Lighting and Sound Vendor: The Lighting Store Carpet Manufacturer: Astro Carpet Mills Furniture Provider: Strategic Equipment Food Distributor: Apperts Food Service Signature Cocktail: Homemade Bloody Mary with food skewer (pepperoni, cubed cheese, large green olives, pickle spear) Pro Shop Equipment Distributor: Bob’s Business Kitchen Equipment Vendor: Strategic Equipment Credit Card Processor: Mercury Insurance Underwriter: Secura Insurance Company Security System Vendor: Safeguard Security, Inc. Roofing Company: Bysee Roofing
The Suite Lanes, 8 VIP state of the art lanes were added in 2010. The area can accommodate 50-70 guests.
The Breakroom, constructed in 2004 added 2,300 square feet and features billiards, darts and video games. The seating capacity is 85.
to want to be challenged. It may not get to where it was, but it’s on the way up and very positive.” Knowing they couldn’t just sit still and do nothing was key to making sure Great River Bowl remained on the upswing. “We always thought we could make it happen,” Lyle said. “The biggest thing 10 to 12 years ago was glow bowling. Old style bowling was starting to phase out. You either keep up or go under. It’s worked out pretty well.” Great River Bowl features a great mix of open and league play which includes bumpers for the kids, glow bowling for those in their teens and 20s and daytime action for seniors. Mathiasen said the latest expansion in the QubicaAMF-equipped center
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FEATURE
The 208 Lounge offers another food and beverage service area for up to 85 patrons.
The combination of the 208 Lounge and the Suite Lanes are used for private functions and can be closed off from the general public.
has brought people from the company in to show other centers what they can do to upgrade. It also caught the attention of the Sartell Chamber of Commerce which selected Great River Bowl as the 2010 Sartell Business of the Year. “From ages 3-63, Great River Bowl has provided programs and activities and is constantly trying new ways to become involved,” Sartell Community Education Director Chris Kosloski told the St. Cloud Times. “This business, and specifically Jason and Lyle Mathiasen, is really seeing the big picture on how they can help people in the community. They’ve figured out just how to be a community member and make a difference.” “We’re very proud of that,” Lyle said. “We’re a small town, and we do a lot of things. We give back
Partner’s Pub , with a seating capacity of 120, offers yet another food and beverage option for patrons of Great River Bowl.
to a lot of non-profit organizations and groups like youth baseball and hockey. I’m happy we’re doing well enough to do that in the community.” The center also hosts special local events such as Community Education’s annual children’s Halloween Bash and Thanksgiving Bash where more than 4,000 pounds of food were collected for area food pantries in 2009. Great River Bowl also hosts more than 400 youth and the annual Teen Xtravaganza which is part of the city’s SummerFest. It also hosts a street dance and fireworks that close the festival. Lyle Mathiasen first learned the bowling business in the late 1960s from his father who owned the old Dees Lanes. Even after taking a job with the city of St. Cloud, he wanted to stay close to the sport so he and Barb bought Great River Bowl. While working his way up to a department head in the St. Cloud Community Services and Facilities, the 61-year-old and his family remain active at the center. “We’ve grown up with the town,” Jason said. “There were only 3,000 people when my parents bought the place. You know you’ve made it when businesses advertise they are right across the street from the bowling alley.” ❖ Mark Miller is a freelance writer from Flower Mound, Texas. He is the national and Dallas-Fort Worth bowling writer for Examiner.com and a columnist for the Bowling News Network.
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SHOWCASE CAPITAL SUPPORT
IMPRESSIVE BALL
LONG LAST PARTS
HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM
Capital Access Network, Inc. (CAN), and its subsidiaries, AdvanceMe and NewLogic Business Loans, are dedicated to supporting small businesses and developing working capital innovations to increase business potential. CAN subsidiaries have provided over $3 million to bowling centers across the nation via Merchant Cash Advances and business loans. Business owners use capital for various reasons from renovating and purchasing new equipment and supplies to funding advertising and managing unexpected expenses. For more information, visit www.bowlingcapital.com.
ZOT is pleased to introduce an all-new, replacement Pin Curtain and Cushion Cover for AMF 82-70 & 82-90 Pinspotters. These two price-competitive products are constructed of Time Proven Heavy Duty Reinforced Polyester PVC for increased impact resistance and a longer life. The Pin Curtain also has a Matte Finish that eliminates automatic scoring miscounts. For more information contact ZOT Pinsetter Parts Customer Service at 1-800-525-8116 or sales@zotpinsetter.com.
ONLINE INVITATIONS
Build more buzz in your center with QubicaAMF Themed Birthday Party Program now with custom invitations to match. Another first from QubicaAMF! Making it less stressful for your customers…no more paper lists, no more phone calls, no more missed RSVP’s. Let QubicaAMF be your complete solution for your next bowling birthday party. Contact your local sales representative today or visit us at www.qubicaamf.com.
FLASHY LIGHT SHOW
Transform your old venue into an exciting new atmosphere with this state of the art intelligent lighting system. Industrial Lighting & Sound introduces the LED Quest Super bright LED effect light. Never replace a lamp with this low power consumption light. Special price $169.99 (Regular $229.95). View this product and much more at www.industriallightingandsound.com.
The new Primal Impulse™ is the first skidflip ball from MOTIV. It features new Atomix SFP Reactive coverstock and the new dual-density Impulse core. This is an outstanding piece of equipment! Engineered for medium oil, the ball is very long and clean down the lane with a fast backend transition and incredible drive through the pins. MOTIV™ brand bowling balls are manufactured in the USA. For more information please visit www.motivbowling.com.
If you are looking for a solid mid-winter league program to increase sales and lineage, consider the home school market. This is a growing demographic for whom bowling is an attractive sport. The turnkey package includes marketing material to promote this twelve week league. Special discounts are now available to launch this program in January. Contact Stacy Karten at 410-356-0936.
CUSTOM EXPERIENCES
Now bowlers can choose their owned themed environments right at the lane and themes are applied instantaneously so bowlers don’t have to wait. Choose from an array of creative new themes designed for every age and skill level—from kids to adults and from casual to competitive bowlers. For more information, contact your Brunswick Representative, call 1-800-YES-BOWL or 1-231-725-4966 or visit www.brunswickbowling.com/products/vector-plus/.
RENTAL SHOES
Ebonite Sport Rental Shoes have been designed to ensure that you maximize profits, as well as provide your clientele with a wonderful experience in your Bowling Center. The Ebonite Rental Shoe has a rubber molded outsole, includes a one-year warranty from the date of purchase, comfortable padding on the inside of the shoe, the ability to glow in the dark, and the insole is treated to fight bacteria. No minimum order quantity. Visit www.ebonitebowlingcenterdirect.com to order.
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DATEBOOK
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE
JANUARY 2012
16 DJ & KARAOKE HOSTING SCHOOL Newton, IA Hosted by The Lighting Store 641-791-3397 cj@soundandlightkaraoke.com 22-26 BOWLING SUMMIT The Meritage, Napa Valley, CA 800-343-1329 www.bpaa.com/summit
UPSTATE NEW YORK: 8-lane center/ commercial building built in 1992. Synthetic lanes, new automatic scoring, kitchen and room to expand! Reduced to sell @ $375,000. Call (315) 376-3611.
FEBRUARY
24 Mayor’s Celebrity Bowling Challenge to Strike Out Hunger Baton Rouge River Center U.S. Open Championship Lanes Marc Pater, 225-603-5914 paterm@bellsouth.net
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751. FOR SALE: 40+ 82-70s . Hippensteelcd@aol.com
JUNE
24-29 BOWL EXPO 2012 Silver Legacy, Eldorado & Circus Circus, Reno, NV Trade Show: Reno Sparks Convention Ctr. 800-343-1329 www.bowlexpo.com
CLASSIFIEDS
USED BRUNSWICK PARTS, A2 parts and assemblies. Large Inventory. www.usedpinsetterparts.com. NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-2556436 or jayhawkbowling.com. Pinsetter Parts New from ALL major manufacturers. HUGE IN STOCK inventory. USED Brunswick Scoring parts, AS90 cameras, processors, lane cables, monitors, and PC boards. Order online @ 888SBIBOWL.com or (888) 724-2695. The Mechanics Choice! AMF XL & BOSS scoring for small and large centers with LCD monitors. (712) 253-8730 .
EQUIPMENT WANTED LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Phone (608) 764-1464. USED WOOD BOWLING LANE BEDS. WILL REMOVE! MIDWEST LOCATION PREFERABLE. (74) 1914 OR baxterlee@embargmail.com.
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16-lane center in Southern Colorado mountains. Great condition. 18,000 s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge. Paved parking 100 + vehicles. Established leagues & tournaments. $950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155. CENTRAL WISCONSIN: 12 lanes, auto scoring, Anvilane synthetics, 82-70s. Great food sales. Yearly tournament. Attached, large 3 bedroom apartment w/ fireplace. $550K. (715) 223-8230. NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s, Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game & pool rooms. See pics and info @ www.visitcolby.com or contact Charles (785) 443-3477. SOUTHWEST KANSAS: well-maintained 8-lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant. Includes business and real estate. Nice, smaller community. Owner retiring. $212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828. NORTHERN WISCONSIN: 12-lane Brunswick A-2s, Vector Plus FrameworX scoring, kitchen, & pro shop. PRICED TO SELL. Call Bruce (715) 614-7779. NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluth w/ large bar, dining room, banquet area. Two large State employment facilities nearby. High six figure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com.
SOUTHERN INDIANA (close to Indianapolis): 18-lane Brunswick center with lounge, liquor license & movie theater on 4+ acres. Turnkey business. Owner retiring. Great investment! (765) 349-1312.
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE NEW YORK STATE: Thousand Island region. 8-lane Brunswick center w/ cosmic bowling, auto scoring. Established leagues + many improvements. $309,000. Call Jill @ Lori Gervera Real Estate (315) 771-9302. GEORGIA: busy 32-lane center, real estate included. Great location in one of fastest growing counties in metro Atlanta. 5 years new with all the amenities. Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One of the top five places to move! Remodeled 32-lane center. Good numbers. $3.1m gets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828) 253-0362. CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane center and restaurant in central Idaho mountains. Small town. Only center within 60-mile radius. Brunswick A-2 machines; Anvilane lane beds; automatic scoring. (208) 879-4448. NORTHWEST LOUISIANA: 12-LANE Brunswick center. REDUCED TO SELL NOW! Includes auto scoring, glow bowling, pizza, large dining area & video poker. Good income. Long Lease. Great opportunity. Call Mike (318) 578-0772.
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CLASSIFIEDS MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Immediate Installation. $5,900.00 & up.
"Bowling Center Construction Specialists" New Center Construction Family Entertainment Centers Residential Bowling Lanes Modernization Mini Bowling Lanes Automatic Scoring CONTACT
BRIAN ESTES
(866) 961-7633 Office: (734) 469-4293
Toll Free:
Email: build@capitalbowlingservice.com
www.CapitalBowlingService.com
SERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL
AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • Frameworx NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS
Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849
291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940 on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: mike@bowlingscorer.com
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2021 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
CLASSIFIEDS
For FLORIDA CENTERS Call DAVID DRISCOLL & ASSOCIATES 1-800-444-BOWL P.O. Box 189 Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737 AN AFFILIATE OF SANDY HANSELL & ASSOCIATES
MARSHALL ELECTRONICS • Foul Units • Electronic Scoring Repair • Chassis Boards • AMF Accuscore Plus • Curtain Wall Chassis - $285 • Brunswick Scoring We repair all types of monitor boards. Call for a complete price list. 593 Loxley Drive, Toms River, NJ 08753
732-240-6554 • 800-782-9494
www.merepair.webs.com
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CLASSIFIEDS
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CLASSIFIEDS
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
LOCKER KEYS FAST! •Keys & Combo Locks for all Types of Lockers. •One week turnaround on most orders. •New locks All types •Used locks 1/2 price of new
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CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-700-4KEY INT’L 530-432-1027 Orange County Security Consultants
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CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE NW INDIANA (Lake Michigan/National Lake Shore area): DRASTICALLY REDUCED— PRICED TO SELL! 32-lane center, family owned & operated since 1997 on 6.6 acres. Also billiards, arcade, pro shop, full-service restaurant, established leagues & MORE! $2,300,000. (219) 921-4999.
CENTERS FOR SALE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-lane Brunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thru liquor store in small college town. Also, 3 apartment buildings with 40 units, good rental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701) 430-1490. CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full service restaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables, karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking $125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net. GEORGIA: 32-lane center – strong leagues & good demographics in suburban Atlanta. Leased building with opportunity to expand. Jetbacks, synthetics, Accuscore all in good condition. Call Ken Paton (503) 645-5630.
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. Board Exchange & Repair! A reasonable alternative for Chassis and P.C. Board Exchanges MIKE BARRETT Call for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
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NE NEVADA: New 2001. 16 lanes, 19,200 square feet, 1.68 acres paved, sound & lighting, lounge w/ gaming, arcade, full service snack bar & pro shop. Call (775) 934-1539.
IDAHO, Rigby: 8-lane center with Brunswick A-2s; refinished wooden lanes; assets $85,000; lease $1,200/month. BRING ALL OFFERS! (208) 535-9905, www.arthurberry.com.
WEST TENNESSEE: Nice 24-lane center. Hippensteelcd@aol.com
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE CENTRAL ILLINOIS: Major MSA – 12-lane center, 13K s/f, brick front, new roof, 4.2 developable acres, includes restaurant & lounge. Asking $575,000 w/ RE. Call Tom Thompson (309) 264-8011 or email: tt@phxaffiliates.com.
SOUTHERN NEVADA: Excellent opportunity for qualified person! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, Twelve Strike scoring. $60,000 for business and equipment only. Long term lease available. Building being remodeled. Call Steve (702) 293-6072; cell (702) 414-5321; email: ljjaa1414@yahoo.com.
SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800255-6436 or Jayhawkbowling.com. See a list that will help centers fill lanes w/ 1200+ New Bowlers, Birthday Parties & Corporate Outings that generate $15,800 – a 600% ROI from 4 payments starting at $278. Visit mcprs.bmamkt.com or call (888) 243-0685. AMF 65-25 CHASSIS: Conversion, Repair, Replace & exchange. Includes rewiring, requested repairs, conversion to MK 30 board system and converting chassis to new PR system where applicable. TOTAL SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! References available. CHASSIS DOCTORS (330) 314-8951.
MANAGER WANTED Don't miss your chance to grow with an Industry Leader! Looking for Experienced, Service-Oriented General Managers for our U.S. bowling retail center locations. Please check us out at www.brunswickcareers.apply2jobs.com for more details on our current openings. Act Now! Apply Today!
POSITION WANTED Seeking managerial position: EXPERIENCED manager/district manager of single & multiple unit centers; specializing in turn around centers; great customer service skills, inventory and payroll controls and P & L controls. References and resume available upon request. Email: schronce.tony@yahoo.com or leave message @ (817) 232-2219.
BUY
FOR LEASE PRO SHOP: National Lake Shore area of NW Indiana. Call (219) 921-4999.
AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY
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Danny & Daryl Tucker Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767
Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - bpitx@texasonline.net
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We could not have gotten our loan without him. Max Cook and Fred Kaplowitz North Bowl Spokane, WA The leading source for real estate loans with low down payments
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December 2011
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IBI
December 2011